Lawrence Ventling Obituary

Lawrence Mathis Ventling II

April 7, 1941 - January 19, 2025

Lawrence Mathis Ventling II died in the early morning hours of January 19, 2025, in Rapid City. Born to Lawrence and Anna Larson Ventling in Hot Springs, SD on April 7th, 1941, Lawrence weighed just over two pounds at birth and was brought home to Pringle in a shoebox. His parents incubated him in the bread warmer above the wood stove to keep him warm.

He was much younger than his two sisters, Helen and Phyllis, and by his own account was thoroughly spoiled as a child. Lawrence was raised in Custer, across the road from his father's sawmill. The sudden death of his father in 1950 had an immeasurable impact on the entire family, but especially on young 'Butch,' as he was called by his dad.

Lawrence graduated from Custer High School in 1959, and thus began a series of adventures, and a few misadventures, for the next 65 years.

He was a man of many interests and occupations, including 12 years working on stuff he couldn't talk about at the Nevada Test Site, railroad engineer for the Burlington Northern, gold miner, Bank Coffee House proprietor, and firearms dealer. He loved chainsaws, explosives, designing and building unusual structures, Jaguar automobiles, firearms, physics and political science.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Helen Callan and Phyllis Ramsey, and daughter Annalee and beloved cat, Blackie. He is survived by his children Marnie (Doug) Herrmann, Tre' Ventling, Jeffie Ventling and Will (Kate) Ventling; grandchildren Kelly, Kacey, Jacob, William, Jonathan, Annalee, Logan and Ava; great-grandchildren Howie, Helen, Violet and Aniston; and the mother of his children, Linda Lintz.

A memorial will be held in early summer at The Hitchrail Bar in Pringle, and Lawrence will be laid to rest alongside his parents at the Custer cemetery.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley's Funeral Home in Custer, SD.